Latch



(No Model.)

N. J. MEIGS.

LATGH- No. 605,170. Patented June 7,1898.

W itnesses.

I nventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC NATHANJ. :MEIGS, 'OF .WEST H'AXV'EN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORQF ONE- I-IALF TO ELMER L. KNOWLES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming partof we... I Patent v e o ,1 o,ua tea June 7, 1898.

Application filed July 16, 1897. Serial no. 644,596. (No model.)

To all whomit- 'may concern:

Be it knownth'at I, NATHAN J. MEIGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches;

and I do hereby'declarethe following to be a' full, clear, and exact'description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it 'appertains to make .and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a door-latch of simple andcomparatively inexpensive construction the latch-bolt of which is locked and released by endwise movement of the knob-spindle, thereby obviating any necessity of turning the latter in either opening or closing the door.

To this end my invention consists in the door-latch constructed and operating as hereinafter fully set forth. I

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several views, Figure l'is a cross section of the latch, taken at line a: a: of-Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side view of the latch with the cover of the casing removed. Fig.3 is an end view of the latch. Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the latch-bolt. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the striker-plate, taken at line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a face view of the strikerfplate. I

The numeral ldesignates the latch-casing, which,-as herein showmis'adapted to be secured withini amortise in the door 2 in the usual manner. The latch-bolt 3 has in its upper edge a recess l, which receives a fixed stud 5 on the casing, and a spring 6, secured at one end to a second stud 7 .onthe casing and at its opposite end tothelatch-bolt, holds the latter in engagementwiththe stud ,5 in such manner as to permit it to have both 1ongitudinal and rocking movement upon said stud, while at the same time exerting a constant outward pressure upon the. latch-bolt.

At its outerehd said latch-bolt has its side edges beveled to a V shape, as shown in Fig. 3, and has its lower edge provided with the inclined surface 8, for a purpose which will presently appear. Nearits said outer end the latch-bolt is provided with the upwardlyprojecting ear 9, the outer side of which is jcur'ved, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. At its inner end the latch-bolt terminates in the projection 10 ofreducedsize.

The knob-spindle 12 passes transversely through the casing 1, as usual, and it is provided on its lower side with a projection or lug 13, which in one extreme position of the spindle engages the rear end of the latch-bolt 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and locks the latter against inward movement. 7 I The knobs 1e 15 are secured to the knobspindle atsuch points as to permit suflicient endwise movement 'of the latter to move-the, lug 13 out 'of the path ofmovement of the projection 10 of the latch-bolt,"thus releasing said latch-bolt and permitting it to move inwardly. A lug-l6 on the side of the knobspindle serves to limit its movement within the casing in one direction.

The striker-plate 17 (shown in Figs and 6) has the usual hole 18 to receive the screw by which it is secured to the door-casing and is provided with the usual socket 19 to receive the-end ofthe latch-bolt 3, the front wall 20 of which socket is beveled or inclined, as shown. At its front side said plate is provided with the incline 21, extending upwardly and rearwardly from its lower edge, and the front edge of the plate above said incline is beveled or inclined on its outer surface, as shown at 22.

A spring 23, surrounding the knob-spindle between the knob 14 and the side of the door, normally retains the spindle in the position shown in Fig. 1 and returns it to such position after the spindle has been moved longitudinally to release the latch-bolt.

The operation of the latch thus constructed is as follows: Assuming the door to be open ing the outer end of the latch bolt andvde pressing its inner end to cause it to clear the lug 13 of the knob-spindle. The continued closing movement of the door causes the V- shaped'outer end of the latch-bolt to engage the beveled surface 22 at the front edge of the striker-plate and forces the latch-bolt inwardly to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 2. When the end of the latch-bolt reaches the socket of the striker-plate, its spring 6 forces it outwardly into said socket, at the same time elevating its inner end and depressing its outer end, thus causing it to be positively locked in such position by lug 13 on the knob-spindle, as before described. The door is now positively locked against accidental opening. To open the door, it is necessary simply to pull upon the knob 15 or push on knob ll, such action in the first place moving the knob-spindle sufficiently to cause the lug 13 to clear the end of the latch-bolt, and then by the engagement of the inclined side -of the socket 19 in the striker-plate with the outer end of the latch-bolt forcing the latter inwardly to permit the door to open freely. The curved outer edge of lip 9 on the latch-bolt rides against the upper wall of the opening in the casin g through which the latchbolt projects and steadies the latter in its rocking movement. By thus enabling the door to be unlatched by an endwise movement of the knob-spindle simplyI greatly enhance the convenience with which the door can be manipulated as compared with the usual necessity of turning said spindle.

The latch herein described is of simple and inexpensive construction, sure and positive in its operation, and not liable to get out of working order.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a door-latch, the combination with a latch-bolt adapted for both longitudinal and arocking movement, of a knob-spindle adapted for a limited longitudinal mox'cment in a plane at a right angle to that of the movement of said latch-bolt and having means for engaging the latch-bolt at one end of its movement to lock the latter against movement, and a striker-plate having a socket to receive the outer end of said latch-bolt and inclined surfaces for causing both an upward and an in ward movement of the latch-bolt as it approaches said socket, substantially as set forth.

2. In a door-latch, the combination with a longitudinally movable and pivotally supported latch-bolt and a spring for imparting outward movement thereto, of a non-revoluble knob-spindle adapted fora limited endwise movement and carryinga lug or projection which, at one extremity of its movement engages the end of said latch-bolt and locks it against inward movement, and a strikerplate having a socket to receive the end of said latch-bolt, an incline for raising the outer end of the latter, and inclined surfaces for forcing the latch-bolt inwardly as it approaches and leaves said socket, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the casing 1 having stud 5, of latch-bolt 3 having the recess 4 and ear 9, spring 6, and knob-spindle 12 having the lug 13, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the latch-bolt 3 having a V-shaped outer end and provided with the incline 8, of knob-spindle 12 having lug 13, spring 6, and striker-plate 17 having socket 19, incline 21, and inclined surfaces 20 and 22, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHAN .I. MEIGS.

\Vitnesses:

Emma L. KNowLEs, GEORGE E. HALL. 

